Category Archives: IN THE KITCHEN

Right, so now that I am a mommy, I’m going through more things than just finding out the latest beauty products, tricks and tips. Motherhood goes beyond that. It’s now whats best for your child, and of course yourself. How on earth can a mother look after her child if she doesn’t look after herself first.

So if you’re a mommy, you know or have heard of jungle juice, haven’t you? It’s a ‘magic’ potion you drink to improve your milk production. Although on La Leche League (LLL) groups, they’ll tell you it holds no evidence that it does, HOWEVER, too many mommies say it has worked for them. So I’m testing it… And in my honest opinion it is working. But I have to also say that I’m topping up with formula. This is a personal choice, as my milk took a while to come in. I feel it’s due to the fact I had a c-section. I have however noticed my milk is coming in more with this juice while expressing. So my boy is having less formula.. so yay!

Now it could be just be the fact I’m drinking a whole lot of liquids which lets face it, is what really helps with milk production. But with all the ingredients one mixes, it could only be helping really.

Mix it all together in a large bottle ± 5 litre bottle and drink it all up within two days.

WHAT IS REHIDRAT?
Oral electrolyte mixture for the treatment of dehydration.

WHAT IS RESCUE DROPS?
A homeopathic-flower essence combination complementary medicine of the use of shock, anxiety, fear, grief and recurrent insomnia due to stress.

WHAT IS BLACKTHORN BERRY ELIXIR?
This elixir is ideal for restoring the body’s natural balance after periods of exhaustion, pressure or illness.
Reducing fatigue and increasing vitality.
Pregnant and breastfeeding woman and after confinement. Ideal for the whole family.

So if you’re breastfeeding, I suggest trying Jungle Juice out. So far, so good. I definitely approve.

It is hard to call a wood buring oven an innovation as it has been around for years, a lot longer than the traditional electric or gas oven; but a wood buring oven has never has never been so attractive than in times of load shedding. Trying to feed a family or oganise food when you are sitting in the dark in the 6pm – 8pm slot is the worst, and so incosiderate of the governement. However, that could change, and I could have a solution for that right here in this short article.

I was invited last week to experience a unique way of cooking from the home, a very unique way of entertaining and a very must-have new toy for the house, a Woody Woodcooker. This wood burning oven was the most unique one I’ve come across to date – mainly because it was built on top of a trailer for a traditional view of wood burning fast food. This sounds bizarre but the delectable treats that came out of that trailer/ wood burning oven were nothing less than DELICIOUS and it only took a few minutes.

South Africans are no strangers to lighting a fire and throwing some meat on it, we affectionately call this a braai, and other parts of the world know a braai to be a barbeque, the results of which are no doubt delicious (provided I am not put in charge of the braa meat); we in South Africa, and dare I say the rest of the world are also no strangers to wood fired ovens as this is a big tag line used to push more pizza out the doors at popular pizza take outs – so why does this idea of having a wood burning oven in the home seem so foreign? Well, in retrospect, after being introduced to one, it really should not seem foreign. After meeting the brain child of the colourful Cape Town local Woody Woodcooker, Mr. Darin Sacker, the creator of a wood burning oven which has a heat efficient design that will allow you to cook a variety of foods from the comfort of your own home without having to rely on Eskom to do so.

You don’t have to simply cook pizzas, although if and when I get mine installed I think that is all le boyfriend and I will love off pizza for years, reminiscing of our Italian trip last year… Woody Woodcooker allows to cook a roast meal in the oven, or grill fish or even bake a cake and of course make wood fired pizzas.

Darin’s, Woody Woodcooker will truly challenge your ideals on cooking and installing one in your home could easily challenge the ideals of who is the head chef in your household.

Alongside manufacturing wood ovens for private installs, Darin has accomplished great feats of organising parties for adults and children alike.

“I enjoy the challenge of catering for 21sts or other big parties. We’ve had as many as 200 guests enjoying a constant stream of fresh, host pizza from the mobile oven.

Our wood cookers can be found in homes and restaurants in South Africa, Zanzibar and the Seychelles. Some of our clients are bankers and others are start-ups or established catering businesses.”

Unique to Darin’s company is that he creates the ovens to a client’s specifications and once the oven is installed he doesn’t simply leave it at that, he will ensure that his clients are able to use it to their full potential with training and he even gives them some tips on how to get the best food out of their oven as well as a widely tested collection of recipes for the best out of your oven for years to come.

Preheat oven to 200 deg C
Core apple then grate it, set aside.
Sieve the dry ingredients in a bowl.
In a separate bowl mix wet ingredients, add the cheese and apple.
Then add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. Fold together and pour into prepared small cake tin or cupcake tin.
Bake for about 30 min until golden brown.

METHOD: FROSTING

Mix all the ingredients together until it’s a smooth consistency.
I added edible colour and glitter. (optional)
I used a zip lock bag to do the piping. Just spoon the frosting into the bag and cut a tiny hole in the corner and let the decorating begin.

So give it a try! Nina also received some gifts and of course shared her cake with Donatella! Let me know what you think and comment below! Also remember that a healthy dog diet should consist of good quality pellets with a higher percentage of protein. Cooking food or left overs is not good for your pet. Dogs can’t digest cooked bones, it’s not good for them. This cake is a treat that my dogs will be getting on their birthdays. Just as we have treats on special occasions. Some of us more than most. lol.

Remember that your pets should be treated with respect and love, but as the Dog whisperer puts it… remember that: first it’s an animal, then a species, then breed, then a pet.

So I have two more Product posts I have to share with you and they are both Valentine’s day Related,

Therefore before I continue to them I though I’d share some DIY V-day gifts and all things Red and Love related lol

Believe it or Not but I have already made my Viking a little DIY for the Red day thank’s to to much time on my hands and the evil of Pintrest.

DIY V-day Gifts:

52 Reasons I love you

This is such a cute gift, I did Something similar except I made a paper box and wrote the reasons in there and filled it with a bunch of paper cut out hearts lol

This is still very easy and sentimental though, for the full Tutorial please visit PaperVine

Seed-starter-Valentine

This is a very sweet idea, I recently went to buy herbs as I’m starting my own little indoor herb garden,

I would most definitely love this as a gift be it on V-day or not, So if your loved one has green fingers be sure to stop by Martha Stewards site for the full tutorial to see how you can make this and what you’ll need.

Valentine Bear

Who doesn’t love a cuddly bear on V-day?

How flippen adorable is this little guy?

I definitely want to make this at some point, I think this is a great idea if you have Children,

It will make an awesome Valentines gift but also just a great gift in general.

I’ve glanced over the “How to” and it seems easy enough, If you enjoy Crochet and hand sewing for that matter please visit All About Ami for the complete tutorial on how to make your very own bear 🙂 Continue reading →

I trust you are all doing well, had a great weekend and loving the rain 🙂

So I have a few Beauty product posts I’d like to share with you all but thought i’d slip in another kitchen one seeing as the last one was beauty related.

I got to make my very healthy and Fit Viking Banana and Oats cookies last week,

He loved them so much that it is now a daily thing and he has them as snacks between meals,

So if you would like to try them, Keep reading 🙂

Ingredients:

2 x Large Banana’s

1 cup of Oats

1 1/2 cup of Whey Protein (optional, I added Cinnamon pancake for flavor and that extra bit of protein which is perfect to take to gym or snack on before, during or after)

You can also add Almonds, peanuts, raisins and all kinds of things you enjoy, I stuck to the simple one due to a strict diet 🙂

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 175°C

2. Mash the Bananas in a large bowl, add the oats and whichever mix-ins you’d like, I added the Whey Protein.

3. Using your hands or an ice cream spoon, Make little round balls and place them on either a greased pan or a pan covered with parchment paper, You can either flatten them or keep them round, I did however flatten them by pressing them down with a spoon as it’s easier to eat then.

4. Bake for 12 to 15 Minutes

5. Enjoy

This is such an incredibly quick, easy, healthy and delicious snack, Please let me know if you’ve tried them, what you’ve added and how you liked them 🙂